Shoe-fastening



(No Model.)

J. G. WHITTIER &'W. E. HERRON.

SHOE FASTENING.

Patented Apr. 23, 1889 awmwboz q/vi/l'meoow, I

UNITED STATES JOSEPH G. WHITTIER AND WILLIAM E. E. HERRON, OF ATTICA, INDIANA.

SHOE-FASTENING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 401,808, dated April 23, 1889. Application filed July '7, 1888. Serial No. 27 9,326. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOSEPH G. WHITTIER and WILLIAM E. E. HERRON, of Attica, in the county of Fountain and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clasps and Clip-Plates for Shoes and Overshoes; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Our invention relates to an improvement in clasps for shoes and similar uses, the object being to provide a simple, cheap, reliable, and convenient device which may be attached to a shoe-flap or latching-strap, and that will afford a reasonable range of adjustment to se cure the shoe or overshoe upon the foot of the wearer.

With these objects in view our invention consists in certain features of construct-ion and combinations of parts,which will be more fully explained in the annexed specification and pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, making a part of this specification, Figure 1v represents a perspectiveview of the device in position on a shoe. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the preferred form of clasp and clip-plate Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the preferred. form of clasp and clip-plate. Figs. 4 and 5 are views of these parts separated to show preferred form of construction. Fig. 6 is a modified form of looking clasp-plate and clip-plate. Fig. 7 is another modified form of clip-plate.

A is an oblong sheet-metal plate having a raised flanged edge, a, that is designed to stiffen the same, and also for another purpose, which will be explained.

The body of the plate A is notched inwardly from one edge, as at a. a, 820. These notches are made at spaced intervals, and any suitable number may be provided. The notches are extended at right angles to afford lockingnotches (1 that are in a line parallel to the side edges of the clasp-plate, which latter is bent into arch form, with the flanged edge a projecting from the convex side of the arch to afford a smooth surface on the lower side, which is designed to bear on the shoe when the clasp is adjusted in secured position. to

retain the shoe in place. Each slot or notch at is of equal width, which is sufficient in size to receive readily the shank of the stud or button 0. (Shown in Fig. 1 and in interlocked position in Fig. 3.)

B represents a clip-plate, it consisting, as shownin Figs. 2, 3, and 4., of a strip of sheet metal, preferably larger at one end than at the other, and doubled over, as shown, to form the parts 1 and 2 and the loop 0' at thebend. The end 2 is adapted to be inserted through the slot d of the clasp, the loop 0' holding the bar at the end of the clasp, thus constituting a kind of hinge joint. Rivetholes i are formed in line with each other in the ends 1 and 2, and when the clip-plate is placed over an edge of the shoe-flap a rivet is inserted and upset in the usual manner to hold the clip firmly upon the flap.

In the modification shown in Fig. 6, A represents the clasp, and B the clip plate. The latter is bent around the end of clasp A to form a hinge-joint, and from this point it is bent in a curved line, preferably, to point t, where-a decided upward bend is formed, the plate terminating in a spring-lip, t". The body of the clip-plate is provided with an elongated slot, 1), and the lip 15' extends yieldingly over this slot. The slot receives the shank of button S, which latter is riveted to one of the flaps of the shoe. The spring-lip by bearing against the button admits of a yielding motion, so that after the clasp A is fastened over a button on the other flap in the usual way the parts are not perfectly rigid, but give slightly with the motions of the muscles of the wearers foot in walking. This plate is thus yieldingly riveted to the flap and has a sliding movement.

In Fig.7 a modified form of clasp is shown, which consists of a series of spaced pearshaped perforations, 6, made in the clasp-plate A, which are so proportioned in diameter of the larger and smaller ends of these closed slots that the head of the stud or button 0 may be inserted through the larger diameter, which is nearest the hinged end of the claspplate, and admit the narrow neck of the button within the contracted portion of the ovate slots .2, thus locking the stud and plate together, the raised flange a of the clasp-plate A being available as a gripping-surface, as has been before explained.

It is evident that several different ways of applying the clasp may be provided whereby it will be adapted to hold securely a shoe or overshoe on the foot of a wearer, and, further, that the clasp may be bent into analogous form out of wire of proper gage. The device may be plated with silver, nickel, be bronzed or japanned, or the clasps may be out from sheet-brass polished and lacquered to give them a finish, as may be preferred.

Other slight changes might be made in details of construction of the device-as, for instance, a sheet-metal or wire hook may be substituted for the stud or button, or the form of the clip-plate may be altered, withoutde parture from the spirit of our-invention;

hence we do not wish to limit ourselves to the exact forms herein shown; but,

Having fully described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. As an improved article of manufacture, the fastener for overshoes, consisting of a clipplate adapted to be secured to the shoe and a clasp-plate hinged to the clip-plate and havin g an upwardly-turned flange at its sides and outer end, and a series of slots shaped to reoeive a button attached to the shoe, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination,with the clip-plate having a sliding engagement with a button-shank, of a clasp-plate provided with a flanged rim bent integrally thereon and a series of slots or perforations cut in the clasp-plate that interlock with a stud or button shank, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with the slotted clipplate having a sliding engagement with abutton-shank, of a flanged clasp plate perforated or notched at spaced intervals and a stud or button which is adapted to .be secured to a shoe, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof we have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH G. WHITTIER. WILLIAM E. E. HERRON. Vitnesses:

THOMAS M. POWELL, PETER ABERG. 

